Many instances of the grandeur of Ahasuerus might have been
given: these were written in the Persian chronicles, which are long since lost,
while the sacred writings will live till time shall be no more. The concerns of
the despised worshippers of the Lord are deemed more important by the Holy
Spirit, than the exploits of the most illustrious monarch on earth. Mordecai
was truly great, and his greatness gave him opportunities of doing the more
good. He did not disown his people the Jews, and no doubt kept to the true
religion. He did not seek his own wealth, but the welfare of his people. Few
have it in their power to do so much good as Mordecai; but all have it in their
power to do hurt, and who has it not in his power to do some good? We are not
required to do what is not in our power, or is unsuited to our station; but all
are bound to live under the influence of the tempers displayed in the saints,
whose examples are recorded in the Bible. If we live by the faith of Christ, we
shall be active according to the ability and opportunities he gives us, in
promoting his glory and the best interests of men. If our faith be genuine, it
will work by love. Wait in faith and prayer, and the event will be safe and
glorious; our salvation is sure, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Esther》

Esther 10

Verse 2

[2] And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the
declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are
they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and
Persia?

Chronicles, … — These are lost long since, and
buried in oblivion, while the sacred writings remain throughout the world. When
the kingdoms of men, monarchs and their monarchies are destroyed, and their
memorial is perished with them, the kingdom of God among men, and the records
of that kingdom, shall remain as the days of heaven.

VI. Is acceptable
to a virtuous and enlightened people. (W. Burrows, B. A.)

The greatness of Ahasuerus and of Mordecai

I.The greatness
of the monarch is seen--

1. In the character of his government. “He laid a tribute on the
land,” etc. Possibly this was a judicious system of taxation, designed to
displace some obnoxious method of raising money for the public treasury.

2. In the acquiescence of his subjects.

II. The greatness
of mordecai is seen--

1. In the contrast existing between his present and his former
position.

2. In the fact that his severest trials became the avenue through
which he ascended to fame.

3. In his reaching the pinnacle of greatness by simple fidelity to
principle and unwearied diligence.

4. In his employing the influence he acquired, not for selfish ends,
but to promote the welfare of his people.

Lessons--

1. He who fills well the position he occupies thereby effectually
recommends himself to a higher.

2. Nothing is lost by maintaining integrity.

3. Worldly prosperity is often the result of religious faith.

4. It is unwise to be disheartened in the hour of adversity (J. S.
Van Dyke, D. D.)

Mordecai’s exaltation: a summary of providential interpositions

To extirpate the Jewish nation would have been to destroy the
Church of God, to make void His everlasting covenant, and to bring to nought
His merciful and gracious counsels in behalf of a sinful and unhappy world.

1. It was not, therefore, for his own sake only that Mordecai was
exalted.

2. Before Mordecai was exalted it was the will of God to try the
faith of the Jews.

3. One great purpose of the trial was to recall them to a
recollection of their true office and position in the world as witnesses of God
and pilgrims to the heavenly city.

4. God prepared an advocate and protector for His people years before
Haman had power to do them harm.

5. To prepare the way for this advocate and protector, the divorce
and dethronement of Vashti was overruled by God for the advancement of Esther
to the crown of Persia.

6. The foundation of Mordecai’s greatness was actually laid by his
bitterest and most implacable enemy.

7. To pave the way for Mordecai’s future advancement, a claim had to
be established on the gratitude and confidence of the king, long before the
rise of Haman.

8. The time pointed out by the lot for the slaughter of the Jews
providentially fell so close to the end of the year as to give almost as much
time as possible to Esther and Mordecai to consider what steps could be taken
to avert the destruction of their nation.

9. Esther’s concealing her Jewish origin, both before and after
coming to the throne, was overruled to the confusion and destruction of Haman.
He would never have issued the decree against the Jews had he known that the
queen was a Jewess.

10. Haman’s concealing from the king that it was the Jewish nation he
wished to destroy was overruled so as to become the means of his own downfall.

11. The insolence and impatience of Haman getting the better of his
prudence was the means of defeating and disappointing his malicious schemes.

12. That Esther should have been received with favour by the king,
after she had apparently been slighted by him for thirty days, was clearly an
instance of the hand of God.

13. That Esther, through some impression on her mind, should have
deferred her petition till the following day, was one of the most remarkable
providential interferences in the whole history. The delay led to the erection
of the gibbet on which Haman afterwards suffered and also to his humiliation in
being compelled to do public honours to Mordecai.

14. The king’s sleepless night had momentous results.

15. How providential that Haman should have been at hand at the very
moment the king was desirous for some one to propose a suitable reward for
Mordecai!

16. Haman’s humiliation at being compelled to do honour to Mordecai
so dispirited him that when Esther’s terrible charge was made against him he
was not able to make even a plausible defence, such as his ignorance that the
queen was a Jewess and his ignorance of any conscious intention to injure her.

17. Even thetrivial
circumstances that the chamberlains sent to summon Haman to the banquet arrived
before he had time to have the gibbet taken down and removed, and that thus
they came to be informed that it was prepared for Mordecai, were as plainly thework of providence as
any other event in the whole narrative.

18. To all these extraordinary accidents and coincidences we must add
that the issue of the whole matter placed the Jews in a much more prosperous
condition than they were in before, and confirmed their faith in the Divine
promises and protection. (W. Crosthwaite.)

The Book of Esther

I.We have here a
golden leaf in the chain of providence teaching us that “the Most High ruleth
in the kingdom of men.”

II. We learn here
the peculiar care with which god watches over his church and people.

III. We see the
wonderful manner in which god raises up instruments for the preservation and
deliverance of his people.

IV. We notice the
surprising manner in which providence opens up the way in which these
instruments are destined to act.

V. We are taught
the duty of placing our sole trust and dependence on god.

VI. We learn from
this book the high utility of the old testament scriptures, and their standing
authority as a rule both to individuals and communities. (Thomas McCrie, D.
D.)

A well-governed empire

The Chinese have a political saying which is worthy the reading
even of English statesmen. It is as follows: When is the empire well governed, and
affairs go as they should go? When swords are rusty, and spades are bright;
when prisons are empty, and grain-bins filled; when the law courts are lonely
and o’ergrown with grass; when doctors walk and bakers ride: it is then that
things go as they ought, and the State is well ruled.

The highest government

Above all, it is ever to be kept in mind that not by material but
by moral power are men and their actions governed. How noiseless is thought! No
rolling of drums, no tramp of squadrons, or immeasurable tumult of
baggage-waggons, attend its movements. In what obscure and sequestered places
may the head be meditating which is one day to be crowned with more than
imperial authority t for kings and emperors will be among its ministering
servants; it will rule, not over, but in, all heads, and with these its
solitary combinations of ideas, as with magic formulas, bend the world to its
will. The time may come when Napoleon himself will be better known for his laws
than for his battles; and the victory of Waterloo prove less momentous than the
opening of the first Mechanics’ Institute. (Thomas Carlyle.)

Seeking the wealth of his
people.--Mordecai was a true patriot, and therefore being exalted to the
highest position under Ahasuerus, he used his eminence to promote the
prosperity of Israel. In this he was a type of Jesus, who, upon His throne of
glory, seeks not His own, but spends His power for His people. Every Christian
should be a Mordecai to the Church, striving according to his ability for its
prosperity. Some are placed in stations of affluence and influence; let them
testify for Jesus before great men. Others have what is far better, namely,
close fellowship with the King of kings; let them be sure to plead daily for
the weak of the Lord’s people, the doubting, the tempted, and the comfortless.
Instructed believers may serve their Master greatly if they lay out their
talents for the general good, and impart their wealth of heavenly learning to
others, by teaching them the things of God. The very least in our Israel may at
least seek the welfare of his people; and his desire, if he can give no more,
shall be acceptable. It is at once the most Christlike and the most happy
course for a believer to cease from living to himself. He who blesses others
cannot fail to be blessed himself. On the other hand, to seek our own personal
greatness is a wicked and unhappy plan of life; its way will be grievous and
its end will be fatal. (C. H. Spurgeon.)